Summary

After escaping from the Germans, Skinny arrives in Pecs, Hungary and meets Rabbi Gideon Schapiro, to whom she tells her whole story. The rabbi tries to explain what has happened to her within the framework of what he knows, but struggles to find evidence of God in the situation, or a clear answer to what would have been the right or wrong decisions to make. For the first time, he finds that his sacred texts do not seem to have the answers and concludes that God had abandoned the place.

Skinny tells her story with a kind of cool detachment, but finds that she agrees with much of what Rabbi Schapiro says and enjoys having the ability to say whatever she is thinking without fear. The rabbi's reaction, on the other hand, leads Skinny to wonder if she is watching him go insane...